Trump Announces Naval Blockade of Sanctioned Venezuelan Oil Tankers, Seizes Multiple Vessels

President Trump announced a "complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers going into and out of Venezuela" backed by 15,000 U.S. troops and 11 warships. The Coast Guard seized tankers including the Skipper (Dec 10), the Centuries, and the Bella 1. Trump declared the U.S. would keep seized crude oil and vessels. Venezuela's Maduro vowed to continue oil trading. The blockade escalated a months-long oil sanctions campaign aimed at forcing regime change in Caracas.